Car seat & booster law

Rhode Island

Q: Is the Rhode Island car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Rhode Island car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 or under 30 pounds must ride rear-facing. Children under 8 who are under 57 inches and under 80 pounds must be in a child restraint in the rear seat. From age 8, or once 57 inches or 80 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

Q: When can my child stop using a booster in Rhode Island?

Once the child is 8 years old, 57 inches tall, or 80 pounds. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

Q: Does Rhode Island require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Rhode Island a child under 2, or under 30 pounds, must ride rear-facing. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, beyond the minimum the law sets.

Q: What age can a child sit in the front seat in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. A child required to be in a restraint must ride in a rear seating position, unless the vehicle has no back seat or all rear positions are occupied by other children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Rhode Island.

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Rhode Island

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or 4'9" tall.

Children under 2 or under 30 pounds must ride rear-facing. Children under 8 who are under 57 inches and under 80 pounds must be in a child restraint in the rear seat. From age 8, or once 57 inches or 80 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22 Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

General information, not legal advice.

SeatChecker

Required vs recommended

What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.

The law requires

Minimum, or it's enforceable

Rear-facing until: Age 2
Booster until: Age 8 or 4'9"
Front seat: Back seat under 8

Pediatricians recommend

AAP: safer, not the law

Rear-facing until: To seat limit (often age 2+)
Booster until: 4'9", typically age 8 to 12
Front seat: Back seat until 13

AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Rhode Island's legal minimum. Rhode Island already requires the restraint in the back seat; pediatricians recommend a booster until the belt fits.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 2 yr	—	or while less than 30 lb / 14 kg (under 8 yr)	R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22
Forward-facing	Toddler (per seat)	—	—	Guidance
Booster	until 8 yr	< 4'9" / 145 cm	< 80 lb / 36 kg	R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22
Seat belt	8 yr +	or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm	or ≥ 80 lb / 36 kg	R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22
Back seat / front seat	under 8 yr	—	—	R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22

Rear-facing R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22

Age: Birth – 2 yr
Weight: or while less than 30 lb / 14 kg (under 8 yr)

Forward-facing Guidance

Age: Toddler (per seat)

Booster R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22

Age: until 8 yr
Height: < 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: < 80 lb / 36 kg

Seat belt R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22

Age: 8 yr +
Height: or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: or ≥ 80 lb / 36 kg

Back seat / front seat R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22

Age: under 8 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Rhode Island in 2026?

Is the Rhode Island car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Rhode Island car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 or under 30 pounds must ride rear-facing. Children under 8 who are under 57 inches and under 80 pounds must be in a child restraint in the rear seat. From age 8, or once 57 inches or 80 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

When can my child stop using a booster in Rhode Island?

Once the child is 8 years old, 57 inches tall, or 80 pounds. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

Does Rhode Island require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Rhode Island a child under 2, or under 30 pounds, must ride rear-facing. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, beyond the minimum the law sets.

What age can a child sit in the front seat in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. A child required to be in a restraint must ride in a rear seating position, unless the vehicle has no back seat or all rear positions are occupied by other children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Rhode Island.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Rhode Island compares

Where Rhode Island ranks among all 50 states, DC, and the US territories on each measure. Rankings compare legal minimums only and are not safety ratings.

Strictest car seat laws by state
#2 of 56, tied · 81 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#1 of 32, tied · Age 2
Booster seat laws by state
#10 of 52, tied · Age 8
Car seat fines by state
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
#11 of 21, tied · Age 8

See all car seat law rankings →

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